Metatarsal arch support and grip



NOV. 26, 1929. c Q JOHNSON 1,736,827

METATARSAL ARCH SUPPORT AND GRIP Filed May 17, 1926 Carl 0. Jo'h/naqon/ ing a pocket formed as 5 open tongue at the provided of metatarsal pocket 0 metatarsal pocket Patented Nov. 26, 1929 UNITED STATES CARL O. JOHNSON, 0F SUPERIOR, WISCONSIN METATARSAL ARCH SUPPORT AND GRIP Application filed May 17,

My invention relates to a metatarsal grip and built-in pocket for an arch support in a shoe, which is adapted to provide within the insole of a shoe means so that a metatarsal 5 gripping pad can be readily provided, ex-

tending the full width across the insole and being a part of the shoe in the manufacture and construction of the same.

A feature of the invention resides in providan integral part of the shoe in the construction of the same, the pocket being sewed along the sides and across the front and extending the full width of the insole of the shoe and having a free or back thereof projecting toward and adapted to be covered by the heel flap. This provides a pocket which may be used for a metatarsal grip if it is desired, or may be left empty, in which case the pocket,

0 is flat against the insole and has no effect upon the foot of the wearer, being protected by the heel flap against wrinkling or interfering with the putting on of the shoe. It is very important in my invention that the pocket be a particular shape and construction having a width to extend clear across the insole to provide a metatarsal gripping pad for the foot.

My invention includes the feature of a pad pocket built into the shoe and wherein the free flap or opening flap is so positioned extending toward the heel to permit the easy filling of the pocket by liftingthe heel flap at the front of the same to expose the lip of my so that the same can be filled with any suitable padding, curled hair, preferred. In a shoe constructed in this manner the shoe merchant can quickly and very readily fill in more or less padding in my so that the same will fit the particular foot to which the shoe is being fitted. This is an extreme advantage in the construction and design of my shoe.

An important feature of my invention is that I provide a metatarsal pocket which is very accessible and which is placed on top of the insole next to the foot, and that it covers the entire area of the natural foot arch, thereby giving a means to provide an adjustable metatarsal gripping pad adapted to be 1926. Serial No. 109,588.

fitted to the individual foot and without interfering with the wearing of the shoe if it is not desired for use.

It is also a feature of my invention to provide means for holding the side edges of my pocket at the tongue opening so that a strong durable structure is provided which is desirable to hold the pocket so that it will not rip in padding or in use of the same.

These features, together with other details of construction and particular advantages and objects, will be more fully and completely set forth in the following specification and claims.

In the drawings forming part of my specification:

Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of a shoe having my metatarsal gripping pad formed therein.

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view of a shoe illustrating my metatarsal gripping pad formed therein.

Figure 3 is another diagrammatic view of a foot showing a metatarsal pad in position,

acting as a grip for the foot in propelling the body forward.

Figure 4 is a plan View of a shoe insole removed and showing my metatarsal pad attached thereon.

Figure 5 illustrates the bottom view of a oot showing the particular position and advantage of the shape and design of my metatarsal pad.

In the drawings my metatarsal pocket A is adapted to be built into the shoe B so as to be a part thereof in the manufacture of the shoe, the pocket A being attached to the insole of the shoe so as to be rigidly secured thereto.

My metatarsal pocket A, which is adapted to provide a grip for the foot in the shoe, is formed as a part of the insole 10, and can be applied to turns, McKay, and little way process, as well as to welt construction, and is adapted to be positioned as illustrated in Figure 4 on top of the insole 10 extending completely across to provide an anterior transverse arch pad extending from one side to the other of the insole 10. The pad. A may be attached by sewing or cementing,

or other process, and is formed of a thin flexible strip of leather or other suitable material 11 along the sides 12 and across the end 13 so that the sewing on the sides 12 holds the sides of the pocket A and the sewing at 13 terminates the forward end of the pocket in relation to the insole 10.

The metatarsal pocket A is provided with a loose flap 14 at the back of the same, which is ada ted to normally lie flat against the back surfiice 15 of the insole 10 and to extend in a manner so as to be covered by the forward end 16 of the heel flap 17 Y The heel flap 17 provides a cover for the free end of the flap 14 to protect the same so that when the foot is inserted into the shoe B the toes and foot will slide over the end 16 without engaging the free end 14 of the pocket A. This construction permits the metatarsal pocket A to be attached in the construction of the shoe B so as to form a part of the shoe, yet permitting the shoe to be used without using the pocket A if it is desired.

In the construction of my shoe B it is desirable that the metatarsal gripping pocket be formed as a part of the shoe and insole 10, so that if it is desired for use it is readily accessible by lifting the end 16 of the heel flap and raising the free end of the flap 14. When the flap 14 is in this position the pocket A can be readily filled with hair or other suitable means to form a pad, which provides my metatarsal anterior transverse arch grip in the shoe B.

A very desirable feature which is provided by my construction of shoe is that the merchant in selling the shoes can readily adjust the size of the pad A by putting more or less padding into the pocket, thereby providing a means which is quickly adjusted to the individual foot and having the same of the desired shape and design properly positioned and secured to the insole 10 of the shoe and extending completely across the same so as to provide the necessary and desired supportfor the foot.

Ihave illustrated in Figure 5 the bottom of a normal foot showing in dotted outline the shape of my anterior metatarsal arch pad, to clearly show the position that the pad must assume to be effective in supporting the metatarsal arch and extending to the transverse arch of the foot.

In Figure 3 I have diagrammatically illustrated my metatarsal ad A as it would act in forming a grip or ulcrum for propelling the body forward. This is obviously clear when considering that any force from the toes and the metatarsal arch of the foot in a shoe without my pad A cannot function properly to provide a grip, but that with my pad A a suitable grip is provided directl applicable to the anterior metatarsal arc thereby providing a natural gripping means for the foot and, as I have found in actual practical use of my gripping pad A, preventing the foot from becoming tired and strained unnaturally b bearing against a flat smooth surface 1n t e ordinarily constructed shoe.

In the construction of my pad'A I provide anchoring means 18 at the end of the sewing on either side 12 adjacent the free tongue 14. This anchoring means prevents the ripping of the sewing even under severe use and permits a considerable padding to be inserted beneath the free tongue 14 when it is desired. This anchor may be of any suitable nature, being adapted to securely attach the side edges of the member 11 to the insole 10.

An advantage of my metatarsal grip of my .shoe is that just a small amount of padding may be readily placed in the pocket or any suitable amount to properly; fit the individual foot. Further it is not necessary to use the metatarsal gripping pad A at all in my shoe if it is not desired. Thus I provide a very desirable shoe and one which has a simple design, thereby fulfilling a long felt want in the construction of a shoe, as it seems to me it should be designed.

The advantages of my metatarsal grip and bult-in pocket for arch support as a part of the shoe itself are quite apparent when it is considered that many people need such a support in their shoes, and from the ex erience which I have gathered as a mere ant offering shoes to the purchasers for many years I have found that a pad of this natur is very desirable. It provides a grip in the shoe or a stop against which the anterior metatarsal arch is adapted to engage and thereby provides means for easin the foot, also acting as a shock absorber, or the delicate nerves and blood vessels in this re 'on, on modern hard surfaced walks and oors which together with ill-fitting footwear are a predominating cause of sick feet, and providing a fulcrum in the action of the foot in the shoe in propelling the body forward. This is particularly true where a person desires to step forward rapidly, increasing the pressure in the anterior metatarsal arch.

In accordance with the patent statutes I have described the principles of my invention and while I have illustrated in the drawings a particular formation and construction of my metatarsal grip built into a shoe, I desire to have it understood that these draw ings are only illustrative and that the invention can be carried out by other means and applied to uses. other than those set forth, within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A shoe having a built-in insole, a member secured to the top of the insole to form a pocket'opening adjacent the heel seat, and a heel flap secured at its rear end to the heel seat and overlying the pocket opening. 

